Le Mans Series 2009

[Mal]

I think they should do a race in Holland - there is so much support in Holland for Le Mans racing.

[Jimmy Magnusson]

Originally Posted by LeMans.pt

Don't see why....


No worthy circuits? You got to be kidding....


And Portimão (algarve), that will be one of the best circuit in Europe? No "worthy" for you?

http://www.autodromodoalgarve.com/en/amp.html
http://autodromodoalgarve.com/articles/gallery/7/

No, to be brutally honest. You might be able to run a race there, but I don't care much for the track when it comes to sports cars. I would much prefer tracks like Brno or Zandvoort. It's a crying shame Hockenheim has been ruined, because I think the old circuit would have been a blast to have.

[The Badger]

Originally Posted by Mal

I think they should do a race in Holland - there is so much support in Holland for Le Mans racing.

Whats the option there Mal , Zandvoort ?

Is that up to scratch now ? Dont tell the DfH team , just imagine the gear they would turn up with !!! brilliant .

[The Badger]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Magnusson

It's a crying shame Hockenheim has been ruined, because I think the old circuit would have been a blast to have.

Wouldnt it just !!!

Way too much of this track modding stuff vgoing on in the last few years .

[Aslak Vind]

Absolutely agreed!!

This no-balls Tilke circuit is no match for a modern sportscar, me thinks. To see them howl out of the old straights, wauw

[The Badger]

Where is Tilke ?

[Sarthe82]

Originally Posted by The Badger

Where is Tilke ?

Who rather than where is more appropriate.

Hermann Tilke is the guy who Bernie calls to either design new circuits like Bahrain and Sepang or emasculate old favourites like Hockenheim, he's got a lot to answer for IMO.

[The Badger]

Needs cricket batting to be quite frank !!

[Speed-King]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Magnusson

You might be able to run a race there, but I don't care much for the track when it comes to sports cars. I would much prefer tracks like Brno or Zandvoort

Looks like your wish has been granted: http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.projectlemans.de&langpair=de|en&hl=de&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&prev=%2Flanguage_tools

FIA GT won't race in Brno next year, but they'll have an LMS round instead.

[Stefvh]

Thanks to the Charouz Family ?

[The Badger]

Originally Posted by Speed-King

Looks like your wish has been granted: http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.projectlemans.de&langpair=de|en&hl=de&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&prev=%2Flanguage_tools

FIA GT won't race in Brno next year, but they'll have an LMS round instead.

Your joking !!! ..... this is brilliant news indeed . Im certainly going to bust my balls to get to see that one . Beautiful track ....

[Aslak Vind]

Now it is official:

Team Essex Invest has decided to call it the day, it is closing its doors and selling the Porsche RS Spyder. Officially due to the fact, that they have reached all its goals, but unoffcially due to the financial crisis. Three DTC titles and runners up place in the LMS.

Casper Elgaard and John Nielsen will continue as independent racingdrivers.

[FIRE]

[airbusA346]

So Team Essex are gone.

Van Merksteijn Motorsport gone. (?)

So we are two RS Spyders down for next year, unless other teams buy them.



Tom.

[NightStalk3r]

Originally Posted by airbusA346

So Team Essex are gone.

Van Merksteijn Motorsport gone. (?)

So we are two RS Spyders down for next year, unless other teams buy them.



Tom.

I'm confident Equipe Verschuur can pull something out of the bag to be on the grid next year with an RS Spyder.

[gwyllion]

You forgot that Horag is looking for a pay driver in 2009.

[cmk]

Meaning that the LMS could be down to 0 Spyders for next year. Woah.

[gwyllion]

The problem of ACO is automatically solved: manufacturers do not belong in LMP2. However, all 3 Porsches have an automatic invitation for Le Mans next year

[cmk]

None of those efforts were works efforts though - the closest was Maassen's appearance in the Essex car at LM. If there are no manufacturers making chassis in P2, who will make them? I realize that Porsche is a road car manufacturer, but I don't by definition feel that makes them less suitable for competition than Zytek, Embassy, Lola, etc. They are all 'manufacturers' in their way.

I bet at least a couple of the invites will be taken up by new owners. It should be possible to sell seats for LM if nothing else!

[JAG]

The RS Spyders lasting legacy will be inspiring the ACO's future P1 engine regs and spicing up the ALMS in a time of transition. As a P2 car it was always too expensive for most privateers.

[canam]

Originally Posted by gwyllion

The problem of ACO is automatically solved: manufacturers do not belong in LMP2. However, all 3 Porsches have an automatic invitation for Le Mans next year

No. The teams have the entries in LMP2 not the cars.

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by canam

No. The teams have the entries in LMP2 not the cars.

'Tis true!


L.P.

[Duff_44]

Automatic entries earned so far:

P1
Audi Sport North America x 2 (Le Mans 1st, ALMS 1st*)
Audi Sport Team Joest x 1 (LMS 1st)
Team Peugeot Total x 2 (Le Mans 2nd, LMS 2nd)

P2
van Merksteijn Motorsport x 2 (Le Mans 1st, LMS 1st)
Team Essex (Le Mans 2nd, LMS 2nd)
HORAG Racing (Michelin Energy Endurance Challenge)

GT1
Aston Martin Racing x 1 (Le Mans 1st)
Corvette Racing x 2 (Le Mans 2nd, ALMS 1st*)
Luc Alphand Aventures (LMS 1st)
Team Modena x 1 (LMS 2nd)

GT2
Risi Competizione x 1 (Le Mans 1st)
BMS Scuderia Italia x 1 (Le Mans 2nd)
Virgo Motorsport x 1 (LMS 1st)
Team Felbermayr-Proton (LMS 2nd)

Bids still pending:
Petit Le Mans 1st (all classes)
ALMS 1st (P2 and GT2)
FIA GT 1st and 2nd (GT1 and GT2)

* - Audi Sport North America and Corvette Racing are guaranteed the championships in their class. If they also win at Petit Le Mans, the ALMS Champion's bid goes to the 2nd place team - Intersport Racing in P1 and Bell Motorsport in GT1 respectively.

[LeMans.pt]

according to the spanish news portal sportmotores.es there will be several new races in 2009, with different duration, like the ALMS, but they don´t say how much not even how long they will be.

The only real facts they gave is a statement from the LMS press responsible saying that there is a "very high possibility for LMS having several more races in 2009".
Any know something more sothing about it?

[Aslak Vind]

So now there is a vacant LM LMP2 slot, after Team Essex Invest closed down.